Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith says she some major concerns about the Republican-backed plan that could cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, possibly impacting Medicaid.

Congressional Republicans are eyeing changes to the nation’s largest health insurance program, which 1.2 million Minnesotans rely on.

House GOP efforts to slash the popular social safety net would give Democrats fodder for the midterm elections.

About one in five Minnesotans are on Medicaid. That shakes out to about one in six adults and three in 10 children. Dr. Marc Gorelick, CEO of Children’s Minnesota, told MPR News on Wednesday about half of his hospital system’s patients are covered by Minnesota Medical Assistance — the state’s Medicaid program for people with low income.

As a Republican proposal moves forward for sweeping cuts to Medicaid, doctors in Minnesota say it would harm “the backbone of our health care system.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is speaking on Thursday against the Republican-backed plan that could cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, possibly impacting Medicaid.

The resolution includes massive reductions in federal spending, which experts say is highly unlikely to be achieved without cuts to Medicaid.

The budget requires the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion over the next 10 years. The committee oversees Medicaid.